Cork.



F. DEBOVE.

com. APPLICATION FILED JAN. I3, I9I4` R u Patented July 17, 1917.

lNI/ENTDR All...

lm l@ FnANcorsDEBovn, or VILLE DAVRAY, FRANCE.

CORK.

Application `filed January 13, 1914. Serial No. 811,931.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCOIS Dnovn, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Ville dAvray, Department ofA Seine and Oise, France, have invented a new and useful Cork, of which the following is a specication.

As is known it is customary to bleach cork stopples or plugs before use, for example, by dipping them in an aqueous solution of chlorid of lime.

Corks bleached by means of chlorid of lime present however the disadvantage of affecting the liquids with which they are placed in contact. Moreover they are readily attacked by these liquids, to which they communicate the taste of the cork. Lastly it is necessary to allow them to dry before use, which operation involves a consurnp tion of heat and a loss of time.

The present invention relates to an improved cork in which the disadvantages referred to are avoided by subjecting the cork to a novel process of treatment.

This process consists in stirring or shaking up the corks with talc powder. The talc powder imparts to the corks a polished and silky surface which facilitates corking and in particular allows of dry-corking. On the other hand the talc closes the pores of the corks and therefore increases their impermeability. Experience has shown that corks treated in accordance with the invention never communicate the taste of the cork to the liquids with which they are placed in contact.

The talc may be colored for example with fuchsin, red ocher, brown ocher or yellow ocher, or anilin colors. For this purpose there is prepared in alcoholic solution of gum to which the coloring material is added, the whole being then mixed with the talc powder, stirred and allowed to dry.

The carrying out of the process may take place in a very simple manner by vigorously shaking up the corks mixed with the talc powder in a closed vessel; the corks are then placed in a muslin bag and again shaken up to free them from the excess of talc.

The apparatus shown on the annexed drawing may also with advantage be employed.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus (a broken section on line 11 of Fig. 2)

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l, seen from the left, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation partially in section showing a cork of the type to which my invention relates. V

The apparatus according to the invention consists of a case or chest A provided with a lid a movable upon a hinge a. The chest A carries two bearings a2 in which is journaled the shaft b of a rectangular drum B. Two faces of the drum B are closed by detachable solid shutters b provided with handles b2 and bolts b3. These shutters may be replaced by gauze-panels or sieves of the same shape and size.

The rotation of the drum B is effected by means of pulleys b4 mounted at one end of the shaft b. The other end of the shaft carries a grooved pulley b5 which operates through a belt c a revolution counter C having an alarm or bell.

Below the drum B is arranged an inclined sieve D movable around a hinge d. The higher edge of the sieve D rests normally upon the cleats d secured on the chest A; it is provided with a flange d2 to which is attached a cord e which passes over guide pulleys c and is connected to a handle c2 placed outside.

Below the sieve D is arranged in the bottom of the chest A a sliding drawer f.

The chest A is provided with doors a3 which permit access to the sieve D.

The working of the apparatus is as follows :-The corks are iilled into the drum B with a suitable quantity of talc; the shutters b are replaced and the drum is revolved for the time necessary to impregnato the corks with talc. The drum is then stopped; the shutters b are removed and replaced by the sieves or ganzes, and the drum B is again set in rotation. The excess of talc passes through the sieves of the drum and through the sieve D into the drawer f where it is collected. When the corks are freed from their excess of talc, the sieve is removed from the drum; the corks fall upon the sieve D. They pass out when the door a3 placed at the bottom of the sieve D is opened. The handle e2 and cord c allow of imparting to the sieve the shaking necessary to make the corks drop if they happen to remain caught in the meshes of the sieve.

Experience has shown that corks treated in accordance with the process of the invention are more impermeable than corks treated by the-ordinary processes and that therefore they never communicate the taste of the cork to theliquids with which they are placed in Contact. v

What I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a onepiece 'cork cut from the bark and having its surface impregnated and its pores closed with tale powder.

2. As a new artiele of manufacture a onepiece cork cut from the bark, having its sur face pores closed with a dry mixture of gum and talc.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speeication in the presence of 15 two subscribing witnesses.

V FRANCOIS DEBOVE. Witnesses:

FERNAND SINAULT, JACQUES LEJEUNE.

gentes AixtvytliiksV` patentmay be obtained for ve cents each, y addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. l 

